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[New Rule] AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM #5354

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[New Rule] AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM #5354

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@terrancedejesus terrancedejesus commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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Fixes #5353

Pull Request

Issue link(s):

Summary - What I changed

Adds a high-fidelity AWS / Endpoint multi-domain correlation rule for abused AWS SSM document (AWS-RunShellScript) to EC2 instances for LOLBin / GTFOBin activity. Please see issue for more detail.

How To Test

Query can be tested in TRADE stack on date October 18, 2025. Emulation was done via pAWS.

Checklist

  • Added a label for the type of pr: bug, enhancement, schema, maintenance, Rule: New, Rule: Deprecation, Rule: Tuning, Hunt: New, or Hunt: Tuning so guidelines can be generated
  • Added the meta:rapid-merge label if planning to merge within 24 hours
  • Secret and sensitive material has been managed correctly
  • Automated testing was updated or added to match the most common scenarios
  • Documentation and comments were added for features that require explanation

Contributor checklist

@tradebot-elastic
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@terrancedejesus terrancedejesus self-assigned this Nov 24, 2025
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@tradebot-elastic
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@tradebot-elastic
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@terrancedejesus terrancedejesus added Integration: AWS AWS related rules Domain: Endpoint Integration: Endpoint Elastic Endpoint Security Domain: Cloud Rule: New Proposal for new rule labels Nov 24, 2025
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github-actions bot commented Nov 24, 2025

Rule: New - Guidelines

These guidelines serve as a reminder set of considerations when proposing a new rule.

Documentation and Context

  • Detailed description of the rule.
  • List any new fields required in ECS/data sources.
  • Link related issues or PRs.
  • Include references.

Rule Metadata Checks

  • creation_date matches the date of creation PR initially merged.
  • min_stack_version should support the widest stack versions.
  • name and description should be descriptive and not include typos.
  • query should be inclusive, not overly exclusive, considering performance for diverse environments. Non ecs fields should be added to non-ecs-schema.json if not available in an integration.
  • min_stack_comments and min_stack_version should be included if the rule is only compatible starting from a specific stack version.
  • index pattern should be neither too specific nor too vague, ensuring it accurately matches the relevant data stream (e.g., use logs-endpoint.process-* for process data).
  • integration should align with the index. If the integration is newly introduced, ensure the manifest, schemas, and new_rule.yaml template are updated.
  • setup should include the necessary steps to configure the integration.
  • note should include any additional information (e.g. Triage and analysis investigation guides, timeline templates).
  • tags should be relevant to the threat and align/added to the EXPECTED_RULE_TAGS in the definitions.py file.
  • threat, techniques, and subtechniques should map to ATT&CK always if possible.

New BBR Rules

  • building_block_type should be included if the rule is a building block and the rule should be located in the rules_building_block folder.
  • bypass_bbr_timing should be included if adding custom lookback timing to the rule.

Testing and Validation

  • Provide evidence of testing and detecting the expected threat.
  • Check for existence of coverage to prevent duplication.

@tradebot-elastic
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@tradebot-elastic
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

Aegrah
Aegrah reviewed Nov 24, 2025
View reviewed changes
rules/cross-platform/execution_aws_ec2_lolbin_via_ssm.toml
Esql.aws_cloudtrail_first_event_ts
) <= 5
| SORT Esql.aws_cloudtrail_first_event_ts ASC
| KEEP Esql.*, Esql_priv.*
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@Aegrah Aegrah Nov 24, 2025

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KEEP with a wildcard. Interesting.

@terrancedejesus @Aegrah
Update rules/cross-platform/execution_aws_ec2_lolbin_via_ssm.toml
8b47c8f 
Co-authored-by: Ruben Groenewoud <78494512+Aegrah@users.noreply.github.com>
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

terrancedejesus
terrancedejesus commented Nov 24, 2025
View reviewed changes
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@tradebot-elastic
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
edited
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@tradebot-elastic
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
edited
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@tradebot-elastic
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 24, 2025 •
edited
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

@terrancedejesus terrancedejesus marked this pull request as ready for review November 25, 2025 13:20
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tradebot-elastic commented Nov 25, 2025 •
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⛔️ Test failed

Results
  • ❌ AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM SendCommand (esql)
    • coverage_issue: no_rta
    • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

Samirbous
Samirbous approved these changes Nov 26, 2025
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🔥 LGTM!

rules/cross-platform/execution_aws_ec2_lolbin_via_ssm.toml
type = "esql"

query = '''
FROM logs-aws.cloudtrail*, logs-endpoint.* METADATA _id, _version, _index
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@Samirbous Samirbous Nov 26, 2025

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Suggested change
FROM logs-aws.cloudtrail*, logs-endpoint.* METADATA _id, _version, _index
FROM logs-aws.cloudtrail*, logs-endpoint.events.process-* METADATA _id, _version, _index

rules/cross-platform/execution_aws_ec2_lolbin_via_ssm.toml
"ssh",
"scp",
"sftp",
"rsync"
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@Samirbous Samirbous Nov 26, 2025 •
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optional - add sed systemctl and chmod

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@Aegrah Aegrah Aegrah left review comments

@Samirbous Samirbous Samirbous approved these changes

@w0rk3r w0rk3r Awaiting requested review from w0rk3r

@imays11 imays11 Awaiting requested review from imays11

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[New Rule] AWS EC2 LOLBin Execution via SSM

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@terrancedejesus @tradebot-elastic @Samirbous @Aegrah